Graduate / Why am I interested in Climate Science and Policy [2]

SOP requirement for MAS in Climate Science & Policy

One more useless comment = ban.

My SOP as below

I became interested in learning more about the effects of climate change back in 2014, when I had taken up scuba diving as a hobby. My first water open dive was in Aqaba, Jordan and it was magnificent, no corals were bleached, pops of varied color across the dive site reef fish in abundance, the underwater realm was a beautiful place. With the same expectation, I went to Andaman and Nicobar Islands for my next dives and I encountered destroyed reefs, bleached corals, spartan fish life. Luckily for me, I was at Andaman and Nicobar Environment Team (ANET) base where the researchers were able to answer my rudimentary questions of the destructions of the ecosystem and in two words the answer for all my queries was "Climate Change".

I felt there was a need to further my knowledge and experience to better understand the severity of climate change. I had the opportunity to do a month-long internship with ReefWatch, a Marine Conservation outfit in India in 2017. As a part of the internship, I had decided to do a small project to understand the impact of temperature change on sea grass, wherein I tagged and observed the growth rate of a species of sea grass (Acetabularia cranulata) on the intertidal stretch and compared it to the same species that is totally submerged underwater over a period of a week. The seagrass that was totally submerged grew at a faster rate than the one in the intertidal stretch, while this got me to think in terms of the ripple effect it created on the ecosystem and upon further investigation once the area abundant with dugongs has not witnessed any in the past few years and one of the primary assumption is the availability of seagrass.

I voraciously started reading about the effects of climate change, mitigation measures and policy interventions, climate finance and so on. Seeking a wider experience, I joined the development team at Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), I was exposed to various conservation projects and I gained further understanding from the scientists of various measures of habitat restoration undertaken and its impacts of climate change. One glaring reality that was being faced was the non-usage of endemic species of tree planation drives being undertaken by the corporate sector to abate climate change effects. The resultant saplings planted grow faster but may not necessarily thrive or even survive in the geographically area. My interactions with the marine conservation team at WTI also led me to believe that while marine reserves are also a good model to negate the effects of climate change; a model which is based on participatory marine resource management is a more successful model in India where the community is largely dependent on the resources.

While in working with Wildlife Trust of India, I had to shift base from my home city of Mumbai to New Delhi. Considered as one of the most polluted cities in the world, I had the chance to witness the infamous smog which mainly arised due to slash and burn method of farming techniques adopted by farmers in the various states in India. The primary reason for the farmers to use this method is expensive labor and time taken to clear agriculture land for next cropping season. It got me thinking on policy level intervention to address the problem was there are technology available and the state governments need to incentivize the farmers to adopt technology by means of subsidy or interest free loans or even subsidize rent for marginal land owners.

Over the years, I have been following the works of two global organization World Resource Institute (WRI) and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) in the area of Climate Change. One approach that EDF has incorporated touted is the cap and trade program to lowering emissions is one of the areas of I would like to delve further into. My immediate goal is to work with an organization such as EDF or WRI as a Climate Change Analyst/Consultant. I would like to gain experience in Cap and Trade program as a tool for policy intervention to reduce carbon emissions. I believe my educational background in finance provides me with a foundation to understand the financial mechanism used in setting up of standards and basis for the said policies and the knowledge I gain in the CSP program will help me understand the science being the basis for it.

To progress in my chosen path towards my goal, applying for MAS in Climate Science and Policy at University of California, San Diego would provide the ideal climate for me to develop my interests in climate economics and policy analysis, and develop the knowledge base and tools required for me to effectively work with scientists, governments and stakeholders to develop credible, long-term solutions to the problems related to climate change.

I would like to focus my research efforts on cost effectiveness of Cap and trade program in California. While a general agreement amongst government NGOs and various stakeholders believe that adopting a market-based mechanism would be able to price carbon at its intrinsic value which at the lowest possible cost, I would like to focus my research with respect to the need for a market based mechanism and its susceptibility to market manipulations and it's outcomes. I have been following some of Professor Mark Jacobsen & Professor David Victor. What stood out for me was their research interests in market linked mechanism such as carbon offsets, costs of alternative environmental policy instruments and a take on carbon tax in China and USA.

It's the culmination of all these experiences and the desire to gain further knowledge I wanted to gain further theoretical knowledge in economics and policy and I enrolled myself in a post graduate course in 'Environmental Law and Policy' and a 'Graduate diploma in Economics'. The aspect of a strategic marriage of scientific research, economic analysis and policy is what drew my attention towards the program in 'Climate Science & Policy', and the interdisciplinary approach adopted to identify

Graduate / Why do I want to pursue Coastal Science and Policy? My passion for marine conservation [7]

Hello,

The brief for the statement of purpose mentioned to indicate the questions as mentioned below. I decided to base the flow in a Q& A form.

Kindly comment on the content and flow

·Why are you passionate about sustainability science and policy?

My passion for marine conservation started during my various scuba diving expeditions. With every dive, I fell in love with the sea and the wonderful world within it. On my dive trips, the marine life I saw compared to the marine life I was supposed to see were worlds apart. Even though the thrill and the excitement of encountering my first ever sighting of a shark, seeing a turtle contently swimming beside me and the pop of colour from the variety of corals left me speechless, I also saw the destruction that untrammelled development had wrought. I saw corals bleached in the seas off the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the effects of ghost fishing off the coasts of southern India, whale sharks with life threatening injuries from propellers of the boats in Maldives, less sighting of hammerheads shark where their temporal and spatial distribution was meant to be abundant. Witnessing this state of marine life made me upset. I came to the realization that marine conservation is what I want to dedicate my professional life to, and the world of business and finance couldn't do it for me anymore.

·Why do you think sustainability science and policy is especially important to the coastal regions of the world?

Sustainability science and policy is important to the coastal region of the world due to the increasing pressure from the diverse range of human activities. Over-extraction of resources and climate change are threatening the stability of coastal ecosystems. I believe we should have mitigation measures that include a balanced approach integrating scientific data and expertise with coastal governance and policy to effectively combat the effects of these threat drivers.

I wanted to fully understand how serious one aspect of this problem really was, so I decided to pay a visit to my local fishing community's landing stations in my home city (Mumbai). I was curious to learn about the fishing pressures and socio-economic structure of the local fishing community. It was during my interaction with the local fishermen I learned that one of the pressures that stood out the most was over-fishing. As they explained, there was a drop in the fish harvest over the years. Surprisingly, bycatch was becoming a booming business to provide substance for poultry feed and fish food. At a regulatory level the government is providing subsidies to incentivise the use of sustainable fishing practise, but I learned that this lacks strong monitoring and enforcement. In bargain, the marginal fishermen are losing their subsistence and our oceans are getting empty

We know that natural resources are severely limited, hence understanding the costs involved and the perceived benefits of ecosystem services will aid in the strengthening of the legal and institutional frameworks that support a sustainable development. I believe this could be achieved by implementing various mitigating measures such as: (1) Providing subsidies for using sustainable fishing techniques (2) Penalising commercial trawlers to reduce bycatch (3) Providing means of alternative livelihood for artisanal fishers (4) Strengthening the monitoring and enforcement.

·What aspect of coastal science and policy are you particularly interested in and why it is important?

It was when I started working with the development team at the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), I became familiar with their approach and was intrigued by this strategy. Their approach for marine conservation stems from community inclusiveness and addressing changes at the policy level.

I realised while working at WTI that my interest was not so much in the minutiae of scientific research, but in ensuring the long-term protection of coastal habitats through the strategic marriage of economic analysis, scientific expertise, community participation and policy Your program would equip and strengthen my core understanding of the requirements that I would need to establish a holistic approach towards sustainability, resulting in lo ng-term tangible benefits and incentives to local stakeholders to further become guardians of the oceans.

·Describe your career aspirations.

Marine conservation efforts in India are currently at a nascent stage. My immediate objective after completing the program involve establishing a non-governmental organisation that will form in strategic partnership with coastal communities and government agencies in India to work towards a common cause. The aim will be to develop a robust framework and implementation mechanism with a focus on reducing the pressures of overfishing along India's coastline. In addition, we would raise awareness among local people and encourage them to alter their behaviour, to move towards a sustainable lifestyle.

·Why you are particularly interested in UCSC's Coastal Science & Policy Master of Science Program?

It was during an intense discussion with Sajan John, head of WTI's Marine Division, he suggested I would be a good fit for the program at UC, Santa Cruz. Upon further research on your program, I believe the content taught in the program aligns with my goals. Your program provides an interdisciplinary approach of merging science, economics and policy with a focus on coastal areas that would help me realize my professional goals. UCSC would provide the ideal climate for me to develop my interests in coastal economics and policy analysis. It would also help me advance my knowledge base and provide me with the tools needed to effectively work with scientists, communities and governments to develop credible, long-term solutions to the problems that currently beset India's coastal habitats.

·How you feel the Coastal Science & Policy Master of Science Program will better prepare you as a leader in coastal science and policy?

Although, I have already demonstrated my abilities in a leadership role throughout my career thus far, I do believe there is so much more to learn. I am not only excited about the new content and skills I would absorb from faculty members, but also learning from my peers and their experiences. I believe the program will expose me to new ideas and problem-solving skills that would have never occurred to me had I been on my own.

Over the last several years, I have worked towards gaining experience and knowledge in the field I am passionate about. I believe that my vision and the UCSC Coastal Science & Policy Master of Science Program's core mission to train candidates to identify critical threats to social and ecological systems and respond with effective alternatives are in alignment with my goals. I am interested in learning from my peers and faculty on how to effectively solve issues facing our oceans and putting our ideas into action.

·Why you feel you are an excellent candidate for one of ten individuals accepted to the program each year?

Based on my experiences as a leader & entrepreneur, I am acutely aware of the challenges to successfully establish a business, manage costs and execute plans. I have already worked with rural communities as a part of my vision for my business and I understand the diplomatic approach required to effectively communicate and negotiate with local individuals and government organizations. I've also been grateful to have had experience working with various NGOs where I was able to effectively help them in research and budget creation (this was a result of my business experience).

While working in various capacities of fund- raising, I have been able to develop my skill set and can convince target donors to come on board for a given cause. I also developed an understanding on cultural differences within each region while working at various NGOs, which has equipped me with the knowledge of successfully addressing cultural differences that may arise during my work in the future.

Graduate / Focused on the why I want to pursue the master's degree than giving too much of a story [6]

Hello,

I had earlier posted a different version that talks a lot about my backstory. I had a different edit which actually begins with my inspiration and going on to my expreience. I would very much appreciate if someone could comment on whether this is more appropriate.

The brief states

The Coastal Science and Policy (CS&P) Master of Science Personal History Statement is limited to two pages and should summarize your academic and non-academic experience as it pertains to sustainability science and policy. Indicate how this background has inspired you to become a leader in coastal sustainability science and policy and prepared you to become that leader.

The CS&P Master of Science Program is interested in a diverse and inclusive cohort. Discuss how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree in coastal science and policy. Include any educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities relevant to how you might contribute to social or cultural diversity within a field of coastal science and policy; and/or how you might serve underrepresented segments of society with your degree.

Pursuing a Degree in Coastal Science & Policy

Ambitious, focused, disciplined & an indomitable spirit are words I would use to describe Kirti Soni. I got to know Kirti, a young 20-year-old spirited girl, who was working part-time making ethnic jewellery for my jewellery retail business, so she could fund her education. She comes from the back country of India, where enabling women to be independent is still unheard of, literary studies are far-fetched dreams and the future is limited within the four walls of their home, and then there are some unsung heroes like Kirti. Kirti is fighting adversity, and her determination to get a formal education, despite strong objections from family members and the society, it is not stopping her from finding ways and means to achieve her dreams. My inspiration for this applying from the program has come from the unlikeliest place, Kirti's indomitable spirit rubbed off on me and a disconcerting realisation began gnawing at me: while I was comfortable doing what I was, it wasn't enough. It wasn't what I really wanted to do.

I had established a start-up in retailing jewellery with a core vision to collaborate with NGOs that worked on empowering women to be financially independent and local artisans to source handmade jewellery from rural and tribal areas within India. I have always wanted to set up an organisation that contributed back to the society and make a difference, but the questioned arose, if I was passionate about jewellery and the fashion industry? The answer was glaringly obvious, the industry I was working in was conflicting with my aspirations. I was having a mini-existential crisis and I decided introspect till I found my true calling.

My interest in marine studies evoked when scuba diving moved on from being a hobby to a passion. What was supposed to end with an 'Advanced Open Water Diver' certificate from PADI ended with 'Master Scuba Diver' certification. With every dive, my learning curve increased, I went from being ignorant to inquisitive. I have become aware as an individual of the perceived threats that the coasts habitat and the oceans endure. Living in the coastal city of Mumbai and visiting islands around India and abroad I have seen a blatant lack of interest from stakeholders in protecting the oceans and endangered marine life on which their own livelihoods depend.

To gain a deeper understanding, I began visiting the fish markets and landing centres in Mumbai to see the catch the fishermen were bringing in. Interactions with the fishing community led me to grasp a basic logic - increased demand had led to overfishing along the shores of Mumbai, forcing both mechanised trawlers and smaller fishermen into deeper waters, leading to unsustainable fishing pressures and an enhanced threat to endangered marine fish and mammals which were getting caught as bycatch. Waste and sewage disposal in the Arabian Sea had also affected the quality of catch apart from degrading the shoreline around Mumbai, with the benthic fauna having been totally wiped out. As my knowledge increased, so did my desire to effect a positive change. I was gaining more awareness by reading articles, researching, doing courses online and offline, interacting with individuals from the marine community and so on, but it was a gut wrenching photograph I came across which was clicked by Brian J. Skerry of a thresher shark caught in a gill net, it was soul-stirring. I had no words to describe the emotions it evoked within and it was when I decided that it was time to gain some experience and take the deciding step to move towards achieving my goals.

I figured there were two ways to do this: gain field experience by working with conservation organisations and simultaneously increase my theoretical knowledge. In pursuit of these goals I scored a marine conservation volunteer program with ReefWatch Marine Conservation in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands for a month. I interacted with communities on the ground as the organisation engaged with local stakeholders to come up with a management plan to reduce their waste impact on the ocean. My experience in my month-long volunteer program with ReefWatch gave me first hand exposure to a participative community action as well as a glimpse of scientific research in coral restoration. While I was lacking, an intensive foundation knowledge of marine science due to my background of business and finance I was able to contribute extensively in areas of research & analysis for drawing strategies plans for effective fund-raising.

Seeking a wider experience, I joined the development team at Wildlife Trust of India, a leading pan-Indian conservation NGO. I was exposed to conservation projects covering several species and landscapes, whether working to increase the population of Gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) in Bihar, protecting Greater One-horned Rhinoceroses (Rhinoceros unicornis) in Assam, or campaigning for Whale Shark (Rhincondon typus) conservation in Kerala. Rubbing shoulders with leading conservationists and scientists I learned several valuable lessons and it was a meaningful experience, as I was able to charter my next course of action.

I realised there are no green prints that can be applied unchanged across geographies; to achieve long-term conservation success in a particular region, one must involve the local communities and stakeholders, understand their particular needs, and work simultaneously for their benefit and that of the affected species or habitat. Having experienced managing a start-up, negotiating with local communities and government organisations for establishing and setting up a production line and being comfortable with numbers and analysis, to follow my true-calling in the field of marine conservation, there are areas where I lack the knowledge required regarding policy interventions as well as economic analysis and a core foundation of the science behind it. I am extremely excited to gain knowledge from the program, thereby ensuring a well-researched recommendation of mitigation measures for policy changes with a sound understanding of science behind it.

Having spent a day with a whale shark research team on a boat in the Maldives, I realised while the work this organisation does, provides the basis for a strong framework, I realise that if the tourist resorts, governments and the fishing community do not all come together and develop an action plan to enforce the laws of the Marine Protected Areas (MPA) and the largest extant fish in the ocean - one which is a valuable economic resource to all stakeholders - it's all going to come crashing down. In a span of two hours we recorded over a hundred divers and snorkelers chasing after one or two sighted whale sharks, and 15 speedboats in the MPA where the limit is five per day. One of the whale sharks we sighted, named Koko by the team, had life-threatening injuries most probably caused by a propeller. "There comes a time when silence is betrayal", in the words of Martin Luther King Jr. I can't stay silent anymore.

Going back to my source of inspiration, there was sense of familiarity in Kirti's story and I reminisced back to the day when I was a 21-year-old. I come from a conservative Gujarati family from India, as soon as I completed my undergraduate studies at the age of 21, my parents wanted me to get married, with the support of a progressive grandmother & self-determination I convinced my parents to let me pursue a postgraduate degree. It's with the same conviction and belief Kirti has, the 21-year-old me had to be able to pursue a formal education, I want to apply for the Master of Science in Coastal Science and Policy. I want to steer my life to work within the realm of encouraging the local stakeholders to become guardians and effectively move to a sustainable livelihood leading to a direct impact on the coastal ecosystem. My 'Statement of Purpose' elucidates why I chose the Coastal Science and Policy (CS&P) program and why I believe it aligns with my own specific goals. For now, let me simply say that I believe your program will put me on the path to finding the contentedness of heart I seek.

Graduate / Too Little time too many choices - Personal Statement for the MSC program [3]

Hi Again, The other requirement for the MSC program of Coastal Science and Policy is a Personal Statement. Where they are asking for

The Coastal Science and Policy (CS&P) Master of Science Personal History Statement is limited to two pages and should summarize your academic and non-academic experience as it pertains to sustainability science and policy. Indicate how this background has inspired you to become a leader in coastal sustainability science and policy and prepared you to become that leader.



I have two versions of the personal Statement I need advice on which is stronger, also please review grammar and any comment on the flow. 1 at a time please.

pursuing the graduate degree in coastal science and policy

Version 1:- It took me 32 years to realise what I was passionate about in life. Prior to that, in my childhood and through my 20s, I followed the herd. I come from a conservative Gujarati family from India. As soon as I completed my undergraduate studies at the age of 21, my parents wanted me to get married. To buy time and with the support of a progressive grandmother, I convinced my parents to let me pursue a postgraduate degree. I knew what I had in store for me once I completed my course. As time passed, however, my thoughts changed and my parents too seemed to become more supportive; they let me pursue a career, with the proviso that I would eventually join the family business.

Working with the family business gave me the opportunity to take on a leadership role, to act with responsibility and make decisions that would benefit the business. It also allowed me to witness first-hand the uncaring attitudes within the business community with regards to the environment. I took it upon myself to start making small changes within the company, whether by reducing the unnecessary printing of documents or the recycling of water from the waste produced by the manufacturing unit. I went on to establish my own jewellery retail business, the core idea being to collaborate with NGOs that worked on women's empowerment to source handmade jewellery from rural and tribal areas within India.

During this time I had the privilege of meeting some amazingly strong women that had fought through illiteracy and gender inequality and stood strong in their conviction to pursue their desired paths. I remember a young girl named Kirti, all of 20 years old, working part-time making ethnic jewellery so she could fund her education. Her indomitable spirit rubbed off on me and a disconcerting realisation began gnawing at me: while I was comfortable doing what I was, it wasn't enough. It wasn't what I really wanted to do.

At the age of 32 I experienced the world beneath the sea, and my life changed forever. There is a back-story to this too: three years earlier I had attempted to scuba dive on a trip to Bali, but as soon as I wore the eye mask I began hyperventilating - I never even left the boat! A year later, on my 30th birthday, going through my mini-existential crisis, I created a bucket list. The first item: Master Scuba Diver. Today, I hold a PADI Master Scuba Diver certification with 70-odd dives. I have enjoyed my dives immensely, but living in the coastal city of Mumbai and visiting islands around India and abroad I have seen a blatant lack of interest from stakeholders in protecting the oceans and endangered marine life on which their own livelihoods depend.

A few years ago I began visiting the fish markets and landing centres in Mumbai to see the catch the fishermen were bringing in. Interactions with the fishing community led me to grasp a basic logic - increased demand had led to overfishing along the shores of Mumbai, forcing both mechanised trawlers and smaller fishermen into deeper waters, leading to unsustainable fishing pressures and an enhanced threat to endangered marine fish and mammals which were getting caught as bycatch. Waste and sewage disposal in the Arabian Sea had also affected the quality of catch apart from degrading the shoreline around Mumbai, with the benthic fauna having been totally wiped out (Jaiswar, 1999). As my knowledge increased, so did my desire to effect a positive change.

Lacking a background in science, I figured there were two ways to do this: (a) gain field experience by working with conservation organisations and (b) simultaneously increase my theoretical knowledge. In pursuit of these goals I scored a marine conservation internship with ReefWatch in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands for a month. I interacted with communities on the ground as the organisation engaged with local stakeholders to come up with a management plan to reduce their waste impact on the ocean. ReefWatch was also working on coral restoration in select areas, though that project was in a nascent stage.

Seeking a wider experience, I joined the development team at Wildlife Trust of India, a leading pan-Indian conservation NGO. I was exposed to conservation projects covering several species and landscapes, whether working to increase the population of Gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) in Bihar, protecting Greater One-horned Rhinoceroses (Rhinoceros unicornis) in Assam, or campaigning for Whale Shark (Rhincondon typus) conservation in Kerala. Rubbing shoulders with leading conservationists and scientists I learned several valuable lessons. For instance that there are very few, if any, greenprints that can be applied unchanged across geographies; to achieve long-term conservation success in a particular region, one must involve the local communities and stakeholders, understand their particular needs, and work simultaneously for their benefit and that of the affected species or habitat.

I am writing this essay this having spent a day with a whale shark research team on a boat in the Maldives. While the work this organisation does provides the basis for a strong framework, I realise that if the tourist resorts, governments and the fishing community do not all come together and develop an action plan to enforce the laws of the Marine Protected Areas (MPA) and the largest extant fish in the ocean - one which is a valuable economic resource to all stakeholders - it's all going to come crashing down. In a span of two hours we recorded over a hundred divers and snorkelers chasing after one or two sighted whale sharks, and 15 speedboats in the MPA where the limit is five per day. One of the whale sharks we sighted, named Koko by the team, had life-threatening injuries most probably caused by a propeller. "There comes a time when silence is betrayal", in the words of Martin Luther King Jr. I can't stay silent anymore.

My experiences over the last five-odd years, of chasing a dream to work within the marine realm, have brought me to this pass. It's taken a lot of convincing, emotional outbursts and a stubborn stance, which in the end has been worth it given how my family supports my mission today. I know that working in the field of marine conservation will give me the satisfaction nothing else will. My 'Statement of Purpose' elucidates why I chose the Coastal Science and Policy (CS&P) Master of Science program and why I believe it aligns with my own specific goals. For now, let me simply say that I believe your program will put me on the path to finding the contentedness of heart I seek.